Article of footwear with suspended stud assembly

Abstract

An article of footwear with a suspended stud assembly attached to a sole is disclosed. The suspended stud assembly includes a base portion attached to the sole of a shoe. A set of suspension arms connect a plurality of studs to the base portion. This arrangement allows the studs to move independently of the sole and of each other to provide greater traction capabilities to the article of footwear.

We claim: 
     
       1. An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper configured to receive the foot of a wearer; 
 a sole including a base portion, the base portion including a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein the top surface is fixedly attached to the upper; and 
 a stud extending from the base portion; 
 the stud including a first end portion disposed adjacent to the base portion and a second end portion disposed opposite of the first end portion and configured to contact a ground surface, the stud further including an intermediate portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; 
 the stud including an integral stud portion and a stud insert; and 
 wherein the stud insert extends from the intermediate portion to the base portion and wherein a portion of the stud insert extends through the base portion and includes an upper surface that is flush with the top surface of the base portion; and 
 wherein the stud insert is disposed horizontally off center within the stud. 
 
     
     
       2. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the stud is disposed on a medial side of the sole. 
     
     
       3. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the stud insert is located on a medial portion of the stud. 
     
     
       4. The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stud is configured to deflect with respect to the base portion during lateral maneuvers. 
     
     
       5. The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the integral stud portion is formed of a material that is continuous with the base portion of the sole. 
     
     
       6. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the stud insert is formed from at least one of styrene butadiene styrene and thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
       7. The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the stud insert is formed of a resilient material and is configured to flex and revert to an original configuration. 
     
     
       8. An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper configured to receive the foot of a wearer; and 
 a sole including a base portion; 
 a stud extending from the base portion and including an outer side surface; 
 wherein the stud includes an integral stud portion having a first exposed side surface and a stud insert; 
 wherein the stud insert is less rigid than the integral stud portion; 
 wherein the stud insert is disposed horizontally off center within the stud; 
 wherein the stud insert includes a second exposed side surface t hat forms a portion of the outer side surface of the stud; 
 wherein the stud insert extends into the base portion; and 
 wherein the integral stud portion is formed of a material that is continuous with the base portion of the sole. 
 
     
     
       9. The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the stud is configured to deflect with respect to the base portion during lateral maneuvers. 
     
     
       10. The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the stud includes a first end portion and a second end portion; and
 wherein the first end portion is configured to move substantially independently of the second end portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the stud includes an intermediate portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion and wherein the stud insert extends through the intermediate portion and the first end portion. 
     
     
       12. The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the stud insert is formed from at least one of styrene butadiene styrene and thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
       13. The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the stud insert is formed of a resilient material and is configured to flex and revert to an original configuration. 
     
     
       14. The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the stud is disposed on a medial side of the sole. 
     
     
       15. The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the stud insert is located on a medial portion of the stud. 
     
     
       16. An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole including a base portion; 
 a lateral stud extending from a first end adjacent to the base portion to a second end spaced from the base portion, the lateral stud extending from the base portion on a lateral side of the sole, and the lateral stud having a first rigidity that is substantially consistent throughout its horizontal cross section from the first end to the second end; and 
 a medial stud extending from the base portion on a medial side of the sole, wherein the medial stud includes an integral stud portion and a stud insert, the stud insert being disposed horizontally off center within the medial stud; 
 wherein the stud insert is less rigid than the integral stud portion; and 
 wherein the integral stud portion and the base portion of the sole are formed of a continuous unitary piece of material. 
 
     
     
       17. The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the article of footwear includes a plurality of studs extending from the base portion, and wherein a subset of the plurality of studs include integral stud portions and stud inserts, the stud inserts being less rigid than the integral stud portions. 
     
     
       18. The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the studs included in the subset of studs are located in a peripheral portion of the base portion of the sole system on a medial side of the sole system. 
     
     
       19. The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the studs included in the subset of studs are located in a forefoot region of the sole system. 
     
     
       20. The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the stud insert is horizontally off center towards a medial side of the medial stud.